March 19, 2025 Minutes
Noxious Weed Management Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
March 19, 2025
The meeting was called to order at 6:57 pm. Board members present included: Daryl Wiest, Cami Baylie, Jason Brent, and Gillian Smith. Also present was Public Works Director Curtis Hall and County Commissioner Jason Maxey. Board members Chuck Birkemeyer, and James Johnson along with Deputy Director Duane Naibauer were absent.
There was no changes or additions to the agenda.
Cami moved and Gillian seconded the acceptance of the minutes.
Old Business
OLD BUSINESS
1. Role of the Advisory Board
A discussion was had on the role of the advisory board members. Daryl asked if the members had received a folder from Karla when they were brought onto the board. It included a copy of the by-laws and the older integrated management plans. Daryl had printed additional handouts and included them in his folder. Tina covered the handout that follows:
The following are functions, roles, and duties of the Noxious Weed Advisory Board.
- The Advisory Board shall review the recommended management plans for the integrated management of state listed noxious weed and recommended management criteria for these plants within unincorporated areas of Weld County. The management plan shall be reviewed at regular intervals but not less often than once every three years by the Advisory Board.
- Provide comments to the Weed Division Supervisor as to how policies and procedures may impact landowners, as they are presented to the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board is encouraged to offer suggestions to make them more effective or fair to landowners as needed.
- The Advisory Board is encouraged to come up with ideas for how to get better compliance with landowners and the County Code (prior to legal notices being sent).
- If the Advisory Board hears or sees any ideas on new treatment options, suggestions, or educational opportunities they should be shared with the Weed Division Supervisor for further investigation.
- Report (large) noxious weed infestations to the Weed Division Supervisor.
- Participate in educational activities that the Weld County Weed Division will have a booth at. These events include the Colorado Farm Show, spring training session offered to municipalities, Weld County Fair, Children’s Water Festival, and other events as they come up.
- Contact legislative assembly, if moved to do so, with regards to any bills being pushed through the legislative session.
Daryl asked about needing to update any of the integrated management plans for new chemicals that have come on the market. Tina indicated that no new chemicals have been brought to the market since Indaziflam (Esplanade/Rejuvra). Prior to that was Milestone in 2005. For comparison Tina provided the original Integrated Management Plans that was created for the 8 primary species that Weld County addressed historically. Additionally, Tina provided copies of the current Canada thistle guide that both the County has produced as well as the State’s version.
After review and discussion, it was decided that Tina would update the original Integrated Management Plans to reflect the changes in chemical availability. However, the primary document that is used and will be distributed to landowners is the color fact sheets that provides control options and color pictures with descriptions of the weed species. These sheets will be reviewed again as needed. Tina makes sure that these sheets are kept updated with current herbicide options for control.
All board members present approved the roles for the board handout and agreed with the review of the Integrated Management Plans.
2.Grant Projects Update
Tina announced that she submitted the final report for the ReStORE grant in January. Effectively closing the project. About $30,000 was returned that couldn’t be spent. This was about the same time as Trump took office and started cutting off grants and limiting spending. So, Weld County is still waiting on the reimbursement.
Weld County received the Make America Beautiful grant for $80,000. However, with the Federal cuts and uncertainty Tina indicated that she and staff are afraid to promote the program and spend the money. They don’t want to be spending money that won’t be reimbursed. They will evaluate the situation as summer gets closer and how to proceed.
The Noxious Weed Fund is housed with the Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weed program. This year they received $1.6 million in requests for grant funds. Historically the fund has had $700,000. However, it was cut by 35% because of the state shortfall, which brought the balance down to $450,000. This reduced award amounts and around 19 more projects were not funded. This cut came from the JBC. CWMA is working to see what they can do to get this money back into the program. It probably won’t be this year, but hoping for future years to have the fund reinstated or enhanced ideally. Gillian said that we will continue to see painful cuts with the democrats being the majority and their preference to fund social programs. Tina indicated that this cut doesn’t impact Weld County this year as she did not apply for any grant funds. However, she has used these grant funds to provide cost-share programs to landowners for different weed species over the years and will apply for them again in the future.
3. 2025 Budget Requests and Updates
Tina reported, the BOCC has approved all budgets, and the Weed Division was fully funded. Two new positions were approved: A second full time landowner specialist and a full-time mower. The full-time sprayer operator from last year transferred into the landowner specialist position. So, the full-time sprayer position was filled with an individual that previously worked for a commercial treatment company. Carl is originally from Mississippi. The full-time mower operator position went to an employee from the Road and Bridge department. Steve has been with the County for several years and is doing a great job of taking care of the boom mower and learning it’s operation.
New Business
- 2025 Program Update
Events
January 28-30 Colorado Farm Show – 100 participants at the booth
January 29 Weed presentations at the Farm Show – 60 participants
February 18 WGCD Job Fair for High School Jr/Sr - Cancelled
April 7 South Platte Historical Society – Weed Presentation - Kathy Griffee
May 7 Children’s Water Festival – North
May 15 Code Compliance Training for Municipalities – Training Center
July Weld County Fair – Creative Weeds
August 4-15 Purple Loosestrife
August 8 WGCD Annual BBQ
October 8 Children’s Water Festival – South
Facebook Posts and Other Outreach
Facebook and Twitter: 36 posts from March 17 – October 20, once a week. 7 on Public Works Operations; 29 on plants, control and pollinators.
Spraying
Bare ground acres: 19.35 acres this spring. This has been carried out on the paving projects scheduled for this year. There are a couple of Grader sheds, and some stockpiles left to treat. Handgun work will start mid-April for hoary cress with roadside trucks hitting the road by the second half of May at the latest.
Special Spray Projects.
CDOT – Hwy 85 north of Nunn, Hwy 392 and a small portion of Business Hwy 34
Towns – Fort Lupton.
Landowner Specialists
Landowner compliance staff have been assisting the boom mower operations and working on educational handout updates, mapping and getting things ready for the start of the season. The "green" friendly postcards are ready to drop in teh mail the first of April reminding status 25 and watch landowners of their noxious weeds and encouraging them to call us.
Mower Staff
The seasonal mower position will open the week of March 24. Tina is looking for 2 seasonal mower operators.
Special Projects
Boom mower is finally operational. Tough spring with wind undoing the work we have done. Until private lands address the plants on their side of the fence, they will continually impact the County ROW. 14 miles with tumbleweeds and 11 miles with rabbitbrush have been mowed. Other projects are the same as they have been in past years. Tina indicated that the Fiscus site was seeded to Sorghum last year failed due to lack of moisture so very little to nothing grew. Then Tina went over the soil regeneration handout with the goals, options and plans for each of the sites. Everyone acknowledged that weather would play a huge factor in success. That sorghum should work if any amount of moisture comes throughout the summer. Daryl asked about mycorrihiza and including them into the project along with stating the benefits of the bacteria with plant root establishment and nutrient utilization. Tina indicated that in the past she has had the seed coated with mycorrhiza that didn't seem to make a big difference. However, soil samples would be pulled as soon as the soil warms up and becomes more active. These will be sent in for a Haney soil test to hopefully determine types of microbes present along with nutrients in the soil so that the best choices of alterations can be done. The Holganix product is also a sprayable solution with various bacteria, fungi and protists. This product is planned on being used on a couple of the sites. Tina is hoping to find options for help with the County's reclamation process and being released from the mining permits sooner once mining operations are completed as well as finding some suggestions for landowners that are wanting to implement some regenerative practices on their properties in an affordable manner with materials they might already have on hand.
Cost Share Funds available
Weld County: $10,000.00
50% up to $600
West Greeley CD: $9,560.71
50% up to $600
Make America Beautiful: $80,000.00
80% up to $1200.00
2. Weed Species Management Plan and State Requirements
Tina explained that as the board had been discussing reviewing the integrated management plans, she wanted to pull up the state noxious weed requirements. The Rules were too many pages to print so she created the Excerpts handout and pulled the individual weed requirements as set forth in the law. Tina read the highlights from the handout with regards to the timeframe of elimination, continued monitoring, treatment along rivers and within public lands and next to roads. Tina pointed out that the 2 yellow highlighted statements under Absinth Wormwood is repeated for each species. Most list B species are set for eradication in Weld County because enough acres haven’t been reported to justify suppression only. There are a few species that Weld County has suppression/containment zones set up and then all plants outside of the area are supposed to be eliminated based on the States date. Tina also provided two summary tables from the State’s website. One is specific to Weld County that indicates which weed species are set for eradication/elimination and the time frame to accomplish this goal. The other table lists the B species and which year they will be evaluated to determine if their status (containment/suppression vs elimination) should be changed along with any date requirements. This discussion brought up questions about compliance and any risk the County would face for not being in compliance. Tina indicated that ramifications would come from the State. However, it was unlikely that they would do much. They have in the past made efforts to being Boulder County and Jeffco into compliance with myrtle spurge, however, nothing was followed through with. Tina feels as long as we are honestly trying to comply, the County is going to be ok. Tina also pointed out how large Weld County is with mostly being privately owned, especially along the rivers. This makes it very difficult to seek compliance along the rivers. If there are reasons to be on the property, i.e. landowner asked for assistance, Tina’s staff would suggest that the borders be addressed next to the river and neighbors’ property. Jason inquired about the Pawnee National Grassland being federally controlled. Tina indicated that yes, in theory they needed to address their noxious weeds to comply. Tina added that her contract with the PNG is on hold because they don’t have any funding to put in the working agreement. However, both parties are still working together in terms of mapping infestations and keeping the lines of communication open.
3. Advisory Board Questions
Gillian asked about the Code Compliance training and Daryl asked if we do it every year. Tina indicated that the code compliance training is being sponsored by Helena that will provide lunch and give a presentation. Otherwise, Department of Ag will be providing a couple of talks, and Tina and her staff will be doing some “live” plant ID – hoping plants are growing by then. It’s scheduled from 9-12. When the invite goes out to the cities, Tina will send an invite to the advisory board as well. The training is more of every three-year rotation with also offering training for municipality sprayers next year and then taking a year break. Then start the rotation again.
Tina asked about the July meeting and tour and if the board had any specific requests to see. It was determined that at least half of the board probably wouldn’t be able to make it. Daryl feels that the tour is to help show the BOCC issues and provide them with education. So, it was decided to skip the tour this year, unless something essential came up. Otherwise, Tina would showcase the new spray truck and any other pieces of equipment that have come in. The meeting will turn into a regular night meeting. Tina offered that a ride along is always available if the board members would like to go out and see how work is carried out or for plant ID.
4. Announcements:
Commissioner Maxey asked for introductions from the Board members to better understand who is participating on the board. After introductions Tina indicated that there was currently one open position and in August there will be two more open positions.
5. Adjourn – meeting ended at 8:10 pm with a motion from Jason and a second by Cami. Motion passed.